A Bit Like You And Me Radio

April 15, 2013

The Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me (1969)

This band was originally formed in Ruby, Warwickshire, England as The Liberators in the early 1960s. In 1965, the band renamed themselves Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours and released a total of twelve songs on six singles through 1968. They reached the charts twice: number nine with “Mirror Mirror” b/w “She Don’t Care” and number fifty with “Don’t Stop Loving Me Baby” b/w “Will Ya.” This minimal success labeled them as a UK “one hit wonder,” so they decided to change their name to the one seen above in 1969. This transition saw the parting of six members and the addition of three new ones (with four remaining unchanged). Under this “new” persona, the band released five singles and two full-length albums, charting (again) only once with the song heard below. After its success, the band released two more singles which failed to achieve any commercial success and the band split up in 1970. The group’s bassist, Stuart Colman, went on to be a successful session musician as well as a record producer and BBC radio DJ.

Written by the songwriting team of Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, this song was the band’s one and only major success. Released in 1969 in the UK, it virtually went nowhere on the charts. However, when released in the US, the song went to number five and sold over one million copies, certifying it gold. Unfortunately, their follow-up song in the US, a cover of Marmalade’s “Baby Make It Soon” charted relatively low and the group grew tired of doing pop songs.

Interestingly, Tony Macaulay, who co-wrote this song, also co-wrote the song “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” as made famous by one-hit wonders Edison Lighthouse. In the song heard below, the lyrics reference a “Rosemarie,” just like in the Edison Lighthouse song. Having co-written both of these tracks, one is led to assume that the lady in both songs must have been based on somebody real in Macaulay’s life.

You really should accept
This time he's gone for good
He'll never come back now
Even though he said he would
So darling, dry your eyes
So many other guys
Would give the world, I'm sure
To wear the shoes he wore

Oh, c'mon
Smile a little smile for me
Rosemarie
What's the use in cryin'?
In a little while you'll see
Rosemarie
You must keep on tryin'

I know that he hurt you bad
I know, darling, don't be sad and
Smile a little smile for me
Rosemarie
Rosemarie

I guess you're lonely now
Love's comin' to an end
But, darling, only now
Are you free to start again
Lift up your pretty chin
Don't let those tears begin
You're a big girl now
And you'll pull through somehow

Oh, c'mon
Smile a little smile for me
Rosemarie
What's the use in cryin'?
In a little while you'll see
Rosemarie
You must keep on tryin'

I know that he hurt you bad
I know, darling, don't be sad and
Smile a little smile for me
Rosemarie
Rosemarie

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The radio is infamous for playing the same dozen chart-topping hits day after day. There is a plethora of great music from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s that never gets any air time. The purpose of A Bit Like You And Me is to share old, forgotten '60s music (as well as other old music) with all listeners, proving that there's more music from the past than the media would have you believe. Whether looking for new music or rediscovering forgotten music, A Bit Like You And Me is a great place to hear old songs.

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